YOUNG PEOPLE'S CORNER

 

By: Revi Jan Pereira
Grace Bible Church International
Scarborough, Ontario

 

LOVE GOD

He answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and, love your neighbour as yourself.” Luke 10:27

These two commands, to love God with all our being and to love others as yourself, are examples of what God wants from you, which is love. First, love for Him, second, love for others, and third, love for yourself. ‘Loving Him’ means putting Him first everyday and every moment of your life. From the moment you wake, acknowledge Him and thank Him for giving you another day, to the moment you sleep, praise Him for who He is and what He has revealed to you that day. Praying and reading the Bible will also demonstrate your desire for God and not only reading the Bible but meditating or thinking and reflecting on what you have read. ‘Loving others’ means treating everyone as though they were kings and queens, even when
they have wronged you. It is easy to show love by helping a friend who’s helped you in the past, but it shows true love and character to help someone who’s rejected you in the past. Finally, ‘loving yourself’ means knowing who you are in Christ, appreciating your gifts and talents, and surrendering your whole life to Him for His honour and glory. God loves you, not because of your new makeover, but simply for who you are and it is important that you realize that you are you, in your situation, in this time, and in this place for a reason.

When we love God, others, and ourselves, it becomes easier (well, maybe not for some), rather more fulfilling to get up early in the morning, cook breakfast for the family, and get on with the day. When we love God, we will spend more time praying and meditating on His Word. When we love others, we will show more kindness to strangers and patience toward family members. When we love ourselves, we will become more confident and motivated to do well at work, in school, and in the ministry. As much as I’ve written about loving others and ourselves, above all, we should love God and the rest will follow.